"
"Don't I?" Mrs. Hilyard smiled. But she did not volunteer any explanation
of her choice.
Here Ann, recognising Miss Caroline's now familiar methods of
cross-examination, came to the rescue and diverted the conversation into a
less personal channel, and shortly afterwards the Tempests left in order to
pay some parochial visits in the village, Ann shepherding them as far as
the gateway.
Mrs. Hilyard exchanged a sympathetic smile with Robin. "The Miss Carolines
of the world are rather trying, aren't they?" she observed mirthfully. "I
think she has gone away fully convinced that there is something 'queer'
about me--that I'm not quite respectable, probably!"
"Ridiculous!" growled Robin in tones of wrath. "She has only to look at
you!"
"Thank you"--meekly. "I'm glad you think I look--respectable."
"You know I didn't mean that! I think you look--I think you look--" He
floundered and broke off abruptly.
"Yes?" There was the tiniest rising inflection in her voice, demanding an
answer.
Across the little room Robin's eyes laughed into hers.
"Perhaps I'll tell you some other time--when I know you better," he said.
At that moment Ann returned from speeding the Tempests on their way.
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